Borno State Govt Pays Slain Boko-Haram Leader In-law N100Million

Borno State Government Monday settled out of court with the family of late in-law of the deceased Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, with the payment of N100 million compensation for the extra-judicial killing.

The father-in-law of the late sect leader, Baba Fugu, was killed by policemen in 2009 after he made himself available at the Borno State Police Command.

The family subsequently went to court seeking compensation from Borno and Federal Governments, including the Inspector General of Police (IG) for extra-judicial killing.

However, the family’s prayer was answered by the Maiduguri High Court which ordered the state and the Federal Government  including the IGP to pay a compensation of N100 million, with the state asked to coughing out N40 million and the Federal Government, N20 million while the police was to pay the balance of N40 million.

Dissatisfied, the Borno State Government went to the Federal Appeal Court, Jos to upturn the decision but with the yesterday's decision, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mallam Zanna Gana, was instructed to withdraw the appeal.

Presenting the cheque to the family’s solicitor, Mr. Anayo Adibe, the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said the ceremony Monday  was a solemn one and that his heart went to the family of the deceased, Baba Fugu and others, who were lost to the crisis, which engulfed the state.

He lamented that sadly enough, no amount of money paid to the family could compensate them for the loss of life and pray that God would continue to grant them the fortitude to bear the lost.

The governor said despite the situation the state had found itself since the Boko Haram decided to take arms against everyone, the state government would not stop to appeal to them to lay down their arms and embark on peace since violence will not achieve anything.

He said it is only through the path of peace and dialogue that will lead to achievement of development for the state and the nation as a whole.

He said: “I wish to call on all men of goodwill to join us in the pursuance of peace.”

He however said he knew government would be at the backlash for insisting on peace with all the harms the sect has done to the state and country but added that since it was the government and people of Borno that stays at the hotbed of the crisis, they know where the “shoe pinches.”

“No matter what it takes we have to stick our neck out and pursue peace.  Though people especially those outside the state will condemn us for our action we live in Borno State and know where the shoe pinches,” he said.

While receiving the cheque on behalf of the family, the family solicitor, Adibe commended the governor for a good heart, insisting that in line with what the governor said, every life was worth living and no amount of money could equal a lost life.

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